Three Kingdoms History: Officer Names

Fictional. Prime Minister to King Cheliji of the Western Qiang.

* Frequently written ‘Ya Dan’.

Fought with Sun Ce, but was defeated. Killed by Dong Xi.

* ‘白虎’ translates to ‘White Tiger’, thus his alleged Chinese name of Yan Baihu actually reads ‘White Tiger of Yan’, as he appears in several English books. Yan Baihu was recorded in history by his nickname. His real name, if he actually had one, is unknown.

Officer of Gongsun Zan. Led Zan’s army at Jieqiao, but was killed by Qu Yi.

* Some versions of novel call him Yan Guang.

Refused appointment as Lu Su’s successor but was unable to ride a horse

A fierce general in service under Yuan Shao. Beheaded by Guan Yu.

Vassal of Zhang Lu. Advised Lu on the defence against Cao Cao.

Officer of Wei. Campaigned with Cao Cao against the Wuwan.

Captured by Ma Chao, when dragged before the walls, he urged the defenders to fight on.

Advised Yuan Shu not to attack Sun Ce, but rather to defend against Lü Bu.

Served Liu Zhang, but surrendered to Zhang Fei after being defeated by him.

Yan Baihu’s brother. Killed by an enraged Sun Ce after suggesting that Sun Ce join ...

* Also said to be Yan Xing in Dynasty Tactics 2.

Given rank by Huang Hao. Talentless. Disbanded Jiang Wei’s defense of Qishan Hills.

* Yan Yu’s name is incorrectly translated in the Brewitt-Taylor as ‘Yan Yun’.

Officer of Zhang Bao. Killed Bao when defeat was inevitable.

Shu officer. Died in the year following Kongming’s occupation of Hanzhong.

Officer of Zhang Lu. Fought against Cao Cao at Yang Ping.

Officer of Zhang Lu. Killed by Ma Chao when Chao defected to Liu Bei.

Killed his former lord Zhang Yang, for Cao Cao, but in turn was killed by Sui Gu.

Betrayed Li Jue to help Emperor Xian. Served Yuan Shu then Lü Bu. Killed by Bei’s ...

Man chieftain. Ally of Meng Huo, who later betrayed to help Zhuge Liang.

* Referenced incorrectly as ‘Yang Fang’ in Brewitt-Taylor’s translation and other sources.

Official of Wei who was involved in the defeat of Ma Chao.

Served Liu Zhang and remained in service under Liu Bei. Provincial Secretary.

A talented Jin officer. Held Xiang Yang. Formed a friendship with Lu Kang of Wu.

Officer of Liu Zhang. Executed after an attempt to assassinate Liu Bei.

Champion General under Jin. Controlled the field armies during the invasion of Wu.

Historically sent to give gifts to Cao Xiu. In the novel, slanders Liu Ye to Cao Rui.

A widely admired offical, he established schools in area’s he governed and helped ...

Served Shu. Yang Yi’s brother, died at 17 but was known for virtue.

Imperial Corps Commander. Persuaded Guo Si not to kill Yang Biao.

Imperial Counselor to Emperor Xian. Advised through Li Jue and Guo Si’s abuse.

One of Han Sui’s Eight Knights. Sent by Han Sui to Cao Cao as an envoy of peace.

Shu officer. Died in the year following Kongming’s occupation of Hanzhong.

Officer of Zhang Lu. Fought well against Cao Cao’s forces at Yang Ping.

* He is called Yan Ren in the online version of the novel and possibly in other sources.

Vassal of Zhang Lu. Known to be greedy, he betrayed Zhang Lu.

Respected for his honesty but was sacked and died a commoner. Wrote the Ji-Han fuchen zan.

Served Wei. District Governor of Jincheng before helping Deng Ai’s invasion of Shu.

A talented scholar and friend of Cao Zhi. Disliked by Cao Cao.

Grand Administrator of Jiaozhi of Jin Dynasty.

High ranking Shu minister. Later later stripped of rank for dissentious words.

Inspector of Jingzhou who was defeated by Wu alongside Bu Chan. Sacked after defeat.

Officer of Gongsun Yuan. Fought Sima Yi with an army of 80,000.

Originally served Liu Biao, but after Biao’s death left to serve Liu Bei.

* Rafe calls him Yin Ji.

Tried to stop Wen Qin during Guanqiu Jian’s rebellion, but failed.

Commander of Wuan. Officer under Yuan Shang. Killed by Xu Chu.

A bandit leader, he later helped Zang Ba against the Yuan’s. Called Black Boy.

* Lu’er, which translates to ‘Black Boy’, was his nickname.

Learnt from Sima Hui, had great knowledge of the classics, appointed tutor of Liu Shan.

Friend of Jiang Wei in Tianshui. Surrendered Tianshui to Shu, made Prefect of Jicheng.

Along with Gao Ding and Zhu Bao, rebelled in Southern Yizhou.

A leader of the Black Mountain Tribe, he was defeated by Cao Cao then later by Yuan Shao.

* Commonly displayed as Yu Du. His name, a title, is properly displayed as Poison Yu.

Advisor to Wang Lang. Surrendered to Sun Ce. Convinced Mi Fang, Fu Shiren to defect to Wu.

Served Cao Cao. Surrendered to Guan Yu. Shamed by Cao Pi into suicide.

An officer of Liu Yao. Defeated in a duel with Sun Ce and died.

Served as commander in Wu during Sun Liang’s reign. Helped support Zhuge Dan.

Served as a commander under Yuan Shu. Killed by Hua Xiong.

Son of Yu Fan.

Father of Yuan Shu and possibly Yuan Shao. Minister of Agriculture in service to Han.

A man of courtesy, generosity and restraint, he refused to rebuke Liu Bei.

Father of Yuan Huan, who served Wei.

Served Yuan Shao, then opposed his brother, Tan. Executed by Gongsun Kang.

Guard of Deng Ai. Versed in the Book of Changes, he predicts Deng Ai’s success ...

* Called Shao Yuan in some translations. Dispite the fact that they are different Han Zi, Yuan Shao of Wei’s name is pronounced exactly the same as the more commonly known Yuan2 Shao4 [Benchu]

Childhood friend, and later enemy of, Cao Cao. Defeated at Guan Du.

Yuan Shao’s younger brother. Declared himself Emperor, but soon after died.

Yuan Shao’s oldest son. Succeeded his father, but fought with his brother, Shang.

Imperial Guardian and uncle to Yuan Shao. Killed by a vengeful Dong Zhuo.

Served Yuan Shao. Sided with his brother, Shang. Executed by Gongsun Kang.

Son of Yuan Shu. Later fled to Sun Ce’s court after Liu Xun’s defeat.

Governor of Shanyang. Was a member of the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition.

Nephew of Yuan Shu. Defended Yuan Shu’s belongings after Shu’s death, but ...

Served Wei. Son of Yue Jin. Campaigned against Shu with Cao Zhen. Executed by Zhuge Dan.

* Mistranslated as ‘Yue Shen’ in some Koei games, and on rare occasion referenced as ‘Yue Lin’.

Served Cao Cao from the beginning. Shot from his horse by Gan Ning.

* His name is incorrectly translated as Yue Jing’ in some Brewitt-Taylor editions. Yue Jin is also sometimes translated as Le Jin (and in Destiny of an Emperor they somehow botched it up further to Le Xin).

Served Yuan Shu guarding Shouchun, but died after his defeat there by Cao Cao.

Fictional. Marshal under King Cheliji of the Western Qiang. Killed by Guan Xing.

* Frequently written ‘Yue Ji’.

Concubine of Dong Cheng. Her interactions with Qin Qingtong got Cheng killed.